The Shadow of Great Britain

”From King Leopold I of Belgium to Queen Victoria”

My dear child, I have no doubt that Viscount Melbourne will do everything he can to serve you. He is currently in an ideal position, having been somewhat awkward during the previous king’s reign, but now he can gain your trust and sincere support. If the results of this election are favorable to the Melbourne Cabinet, it will grant them sufficient strength.

In addition, please do your utmost to win over the numerous moderate Tories, who by nature and viewpoint, have always been reliable and ideal supporters of the British Royal Family. At the same time, you must be continually wary of the adverse effects caused by the two extreme factions within the Whig and Tory Parties; whether it be the Radical Liberal Party or the extreme Conservative Party, both are unfavorable to your rule.

Here, I wish to mention a key figure whom you value greatly—Sir Arthur Hastings.

You may have already noticed that he possesses a rare balance. As the first graduate and former Dean of the University of London, he naturally enjoys high prestige among the Radical Party. The spirit of that emerging institution enables him to understand the freedom of thought, the power of learning, and the trend of public opinion. Moreover, he is a legendary figure in Scotland Yard, having won the respect of the Conservatives with his fearless courage and spirit of sacrifice during the 1832 Parliamentary Reform Riots. It is because these two experiences coexist within him that he can empathize with reformers while being trusted by traditionalists.

An individual like Arthur Hastings is extraordinarily rare in any country. Precisely because of those seemingly contradictory experiences, he can be understood by both sides, yet often pleases neither.

But, my dear child, you must also understand that such a person is most worried about being neglected and isolated. If he feels isolated, he will become silent. Should he feel trusted, he will spare no effort in returning the favor. You need not deliberately praise him, nor show kindness publicly, but merely let him know at crucial moments that you understand his situation and give him enough support. This will ensure his lifelong gratitude.

I can assure you that as long as you can prudently position him in the delicate space between you and the two parties, he will become an excellent bridge for balancing and communicating between the two party forces. This will greatly benefit your success, as wise and courageous helpers are endless assets.

Your ever-trustworthy uncle and friend,

Leopold R.

Laken Palace, August 22, 1837

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In front of the St. James Theatre, the glow of the gas lamps cast flickering shadows upon the cobblestone road.

The evening breeze lifted a corner of the red carpet laid at the entrance, as several young newspaper boys watched the carriage below the steps from a distance.

It was a high-suspended, deep black four-wheeled carriage with gilded embossed emblems on the side doors. Two gray-white Norwegian stallions stood straight, their manes neatly trimmed.

As the carriage came to a halt, the coachman in a black wool uniform and high top hat deftly dismounted, lightly tying the reins to a hitching post nearby.

With a soft click, the carriage door, adorned with dark golden patterns, suddenly opened.

A pair of polished straight boots was the first to step out of the carriage, the heel striking the cobblestone road with a steady thud.

Then appeared a deep blue woolen cloak with a neatly folded collar, plain and clear.

After stepping down, Albert stood for a moment, seemingly in no hurry to glance around but rather taking the time to adjust his cuffs.

At that moment, someone was already coming down the steps of the porch to greet him.

”Your Highness.” Arthur, with a smile, removed his gloves and extended his hand to him, ”Welcome to the St. James Theatre.”

”Sir Arthur.” Not waiting for Arthur to come closer, Albert also ascended the steps to clasp his extended hand, ”Thank you for sending me the ’Göttingen Lecture.’ Especially the part about the divergence between Kant and Fichte on state obligations, I read it more than once.”

”That was just a minor task,” Arthur replied with a smile, ”Those lecture notes of mine are rather dull. Any gentleman picked at random from the Carlton Club could speak more insightfully than I could. By the way, how did your afternoon go over there?”

Speaking of this, Albert’s eyes brightened a bit, ”Marvelous. I met the Duke of Wellington there and had some talks with the Earl of Aberdeen about the Northern German Customs Union. Of course, among everyone, Sir Robert Peel impressed me the most.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly while maintaining his usual smile.

”Sir Peel is not someone who easily impresses in conversation,” he said, gesturing invitingly to lead Albert into the theater porch, ”His Excellency seldom engages in small talk and dislikes flattery, often speaking only the essentials. He is undoubtedly a pragmatist but not an ideal social companion. How did you manage to converse with him?”

Walking alongside Arthur, Albert appeared highly enthusiastic, seemingly very satisfied with his visit to Carlton earlier today, ”Precisely because of this, I found him distinct from everyone else. Sir Peel didn’t discuss lineage, titles, or military achievements with me; instead, he opened by asking how I viewed the conflict between agricultural tariffs and urban labor. In his words, what the German states are experiencing is exactly the path Britain walked twenty years ago.”